von Early in the evening of January 2 the first four F4 Phantom fighters of the German Air Force landed in the Šiauliai Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force (LITHAF) to patrol the Baltic airspace for the oncoming four months.
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| Picture by Alvydas Tamošiūnas |
On January 4 the official changeover ceremony of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission will take place at the LITHAF Šiauliai Air Base. After a four-month tour of duty Danish Air Contingent will be replaced by Germans with six F‑4 Phantom fighters. The ceremony will be attended by Lithuanian, German, Danish, Estonian, and Latvian military delegates and civilian representatives of the city and district of Šiauliai.
Germany will protect security of the Baltic skies for the fifth time.
For the media:
Media representatives willing to observe the changeover ceremony at the Air Base on Wednesday, January 4, should register before 1400 of Tuesday, January 3, with the Air Base at 00370 41 59 21 51 or e‑mail ieva.gulbiniene@mil.lt. Registered media representatives should arrive at the Šiauliai Air Base (Lakūnų str. 3, Šiauliai) at 1035 on January 4.
Media representatives willing to attend the ceremony will have an opportunity to use MOD transport. Those willing to use it are to contact the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defence before 1400 of Tuesday, January 3 (POC — Asta Galdikaitė) at 00370 5 273 5519, 00370 687 90 765, or e‑mail vis@kam.lt, full name and the name of the represented media will be required as well as e‑mail address and contact phone number. Transport leaves from the square in front of the Ministry of National Defence on Wednesday, January 4, at 0735.
Source:
Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania
